This blog has been developed to facilitate interactive conversations about the Maynard School District. Individual student or personal matters must still be discussed privately with the appropriate personnel in the schools.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Superintendent's Important Water Quality Update Message

Water Quality Update

The Maynard SEPAC and individual parents have emailed me and suggested that I provide additional detailed information in the form of frequently asked questions and actual testing data. I have worked collaboratively with the town leadership and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to gather this information for you.

Frequently Asked
Questions & Answers

Regarding the Water Testing at the Maynard
Public Schools

1
Q.) How often is the water tested?

1
A.) The Public Water Supply tests the water quarterly for lead and copper. In
addition to the required testing, the School District participated in the
voluntary LCCA Drinking Water Program through the MassDEP.

2
Q.) Which schools are tested?

2
A.) All water taps throughout the Green
Meadow Elementary, Fowler Middle School, and Maynard High School were sampled
for lead and copper.

Initial
water testing indicated that four water taps at the Green Meadow Elementary
School and 11 water taps at the Fowler Middle School contained copper levels
which exceeded the action levels set by the MassDEP. Initial water testing also indicated that two
water taps at the Fowler Middle School and one tap at the Maynard High School
contained lead levels which exceeded the action levels set by the MassDEP.

The
School District immediately notified the MassDEP of the results and worked
together to create and implement the corrective action plan. All fountains
which tested at action levels for lead and copper were taken out of service. MassDEP
advised implementing a flushing and water usage
plan for any tap which the School District wanted to keep in service, and to
permanently remove from service any taps which would not be used. After
flushing was completed over vacation week, 10 taps were retested for lead and
copper. All 10 re-sampled taps had lead and copper levels well below the action
level, some even indicated ‘No Dose’ for lead and copper. Eight other fountains
which were not retested were permanently taken out of service.

Additional advanced precautions included the installation of bottled
water throughout the Green Meadow Elementary School and Fowler
Middle School while awaiting the results of the re-tested water taps.

After receiving the re-test results of the 10 identified water
taps, MassDEP was notified and the decision was made to place the 10 water taps
back in service.

The schools will continue to complete regular flushing of all
in-service water taps to ensure that water is not allowed to rest in the
fountains for extended periods of time.

The
Massachusetts Action Level for lead in drinking water is 0.015 milligrams per
liter (also known as parts per million). The Massachusetts Action Level for
copper in drinking water is 1.3 milligrams per liter.

3
Q.) Is there a long term plan to replace
the pipes and fix the root causes or other mitigation plans?

3
A.) We have
implemented a sampling plan to conduct testing at outlets (faucets, water
fountains, etc.). The Public Water Supply will also continue to complete the
regular quarterly testing. Through periodic reports, we will keep you informed
as to the progress of our efforts.

4
Q.) When was the last time the water was
tested (i.e. How long has copper and lead been in the water supply)?

4 A.) Lead
is not believed to be in our water source but plumbing and fixtures in our
buildings may contain lead, resulting in an increase in the lead content in tap water. Copper is
also not believed to be in our water source but plumbing and fixtures in our
buildings may contain copper, resulting in an increase in the copper content in
tap water.The Public Water Supply tests
four taps in the school quarterly. Previous test results indicated lead and
copper levels below the action level set by the MassDEP. This is the first
comprehensive testing for lead and copper completed of all water tapes in each
of the three schools and is a result of the School District’s efforts to
participate in a voluntary program to provide safe and healthy drinking water
to student and staff.

5
Q.) Are preschool families in the
student information system iPass and did they get the notice?

5
A.) Yes our preschool families are in
the student information system iPass and they did get the same notice that was
sent out on the blog.

6
Q.) How is it that a new building has these issues, were not all
the taps and pipes replaced when the building was constructed?These concerns seem pretty elementary that you
would NOT put copper or lead piping or taps in a building where children live?

6 A.)
Our new Maynard High School building was built with all brand new
materials. It is not uncommon for copper
pipes to be used for fresh water supplies in new construction. The MassDEP has
educated us that lead
and copper generally enter drinking water from a building’s plumbing system. They may be present in various parts of the plumbing system, such as piping,
solder, and fixtures, where they can be picked up as water passes through the
system.

In
some cases, if there is low usage at a tap and the water sits in those fixtures
or plumbing, excessive action levels will occur. Regular flushing of the system will eliminate
this from happening in low usage taps.

7 Q.) Considering the serious health and development
impacts of lead in particular, is there any discussion with the town or plan to
screen students for elevated levels?

7A.) Marc Nascarella, Director of Toxicology at the Mass
Department of Public Health (DPH), has informed us that the DPH are available
to provide assistance to us during this process. Specifically answering
questions from the public relating to health effects.

He explained that screening for lead is required by the
commonwealth for children under the age of five. This happens at their regular doctor’s visits
and is available to older children as requested. He said this is typically
addressed on an individual basis with parents one on one, as situations very.

Any parents who have additional questions regarding screening
for lead to contact the Environmental Toxicology program at the Department of
Public Health, (617) 624-5757.

8 Q.) What detailed information can be given about the location and lead or copper levels can be provided?8 A.) For more detailed information on the locations and results of the water testing, you can go the the Maynard Public Schools Home page and see the link there or you can click directly on the following link: